It runs on a little too long, but it’s certainly a worthwhile film. *The King of Comedy* features a strong central performance from Robert De Niro, complemented by Jerry Lewis and Sandra Bernhard in supporting roles. I found the way the movie diverged from reality to show Rupert Pupkin's perspective through his dreams particularly interesting, especially as those visions blended together toward the finish. It’s…

Robert De Niro delivers a strong performance in this entertaining comedy centered on the would-be comedian “Pupkin,” who’s willing to do just about anything to achieve his big break. He persistently bothers the celebrated talk show host "Jerry" – portrayed by a believable Jerry Lewis – and, with considerable self-assurance, manages to get him to hear his jokes. The star seems eager to be done with him and agrees seem…

Martin Scorsese’s THE KING OF COMEDY ended up being the film released by a major studio that made the least amount of money in 1982. It's not hard to understand why; it presents numerous awkward moments, there’s no clear central character, and you won’t find anyone to root for (the person who seems like they might be worth caring about is revealed to be a criminal). Every performer is irritating or unlikeable, even T…

De Niro portrays Rupert Pitkin, a comedian striving for the level of recognition achieved by Jerry Lewis. Pupkin feels like a kindred spirit to Travis Bickle – both reside in New York and experience a descent into madness. Following numerous setbacks, the increasingly unstable Pupkin resolves to abduct his idol and demand payment from a film studio in exchange for his release, hoping it will lead to his own succes…